Highlights: Enjoy stunning mountain scenery, visit the colourful hill tribe people and experience the local tribe lives by spending the night at the local family.Grade: Medium Trekking Departure: Everyday Meeting Point: Pick up at your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter

Immerse yourself in culture and amazing scenery with this three day trek.

Note: If you visit Sapa in May (rice planting month) and September (rice ripening month), you will earn an opportunity to savor spectacular golden terraced fields and explore the methods of harvesting or planting. Appropriate footwear must be worn on treks in Sapa. Note that if conditions are wet, programs may be changed.

ITINERARY

NIGHT 1: HA NOI - LAO CAI STATION BY TRAIN

This evening you will be picked up from your hotel lobby by our representative for a short transfer to Hanoi Train Station for the overnight train to Lao Cai, the gateway to Sapa (9 hour duration). Settle down for an early night to try and get as much sleep as possible for your first day of trekking as you will be woken up around 5h00am on arrival to Sapa.

Arrive Lao Cai Train Station early this morning around 06h00, set off to meet your tour guide and driver then take a drive of 40km for over an hour drive uphill to Sapa. The ride offers a glimpse over the stunning vistas and impressive rice terraces.

Upon arrival in Sapa town freshen up and have breakfast then prepare for a great trek down to the picturesque valley of Muong Hoa.

Depart from your hotel at 09h30 for 6km of walking down to the South-east of Sapa along the side of Muong Hoa valley to visit Y Linh Ho, a village inhabited by the H'mong minority. This is a great opportunity to take photographs of hereditary terraces that are estimated around 100 years old. Continue a 2km-trekking down to visit Lao Chai village where you will visit the H'mong home town.

Stop for a rest and light picnic lunch in a local village. It gives you a worth chance to learn about the local house architecture which is full of their daily life styles and exclusive custom.
After lunch and a relaxing break, gear up for another trek through rice paddy fields and spectacular scenery to visit Ta Van village of the Dzay minority people. Here you will be warmly welcomed by our lovely host family, enjoy a cup of herbal tea, help prepare your feast for dinner and spend the night in their H’mong homestay.

NIGHT 2: Stay overnight at a local homestay.
(Trekking: approximately 12 Kilometers).

DAY 2: TA VAN - GIANG TA CHAI - SU PAN - SAPA (B, L, D)

Wake up in the morning, open the window and have a look outside (weather permits) you will be treated to amazing views across the rice terraces in the valley. Leaving Ta Van village after breakfast and following the foot path uphill, you will pass through impressive terraced rice paddies on the hill slopes before getting through a bamboo forest, a huge waterfall to Giang Ta Chai village of the Red Zao people. Walking around the village you will meet many women with their embroidery work to make their traditional dresses, occasionally you can see the blacksmiths making farming tools and even hunting riffles.

Here you can rest your legs and take in the stunning mountain scenery as we stop for a picnic lunch.

After lunch and break continue trekking through the rice terraces to the village of Su Pan then walk up to the main road for transfer back to Sapa town. Enjoy the rest of your day at leisure.

09h30: Take a walk down to the South-west of Sapa (around 4km) to visit Cat Cat village of the Black H’mong. Here you will see traditional H’mong homes at their best, and you will be able to meet a H’mong family to learn more about their way of life. The village is also the perfect place to see traditional clothing being made, hemp being dyed and women weaving.
Relax at the foot of the stunning waterfall and the vestige of a hydroelectric power station that was constructed by the French during the colonial time in Vietnam.

12h30: Enjoy picnic lunch by the side of the river.
After lunch and break journey on 3km trekking to Sin Chai village - located at the foot of Fansipan Mountain known as “the roof of Vietnam and Indochina”. Visit the village, where community based tourism in Sapa takes place is inhabited by the black Hmong minority. This village is a little off the usual trekking route and less visited, but offers the opportunity to see traditional wooden homes built using the indigenous Pumu tree.

14h30: Transfer back to Sapa town. Enjoy the rest of your day at leisure.

16h30: Take a shower at hotel and have dinner before transfer downhill to Lao Cai for the night train to Hanoi (your overnight train departs before 22h00).

Early arrival in Hanoi around 5h00am next day then transfer to your hotel or central Hanoi for onward departure.

TOUR PRICE: (For standard option)

152 US$ per person - Group tour (max 8 persons)

215 US$ per person - Private tour (2 persons only)

* Prices are in US Dollars per person on a shared basis.* Prices may vary according to the number of tourists in your traveling party. Please contact us to get the best possible price.

INCLUDES:- Transportation by air-conditioned vehicle as tour program indicated.
- Two way train tickets based on first class 4 berth shared cabin with air-conditioner (Soft sleeper wooden cabin).
- Entrance fees for mentioned visits.
- Local English speaking guide (for other languages and a national guide supplements apply).
- Meals as mentioned in program (B = Breakfast, L= Lunch, D=Dinner).
- 01 night at local Homestay and 01 night at hotel in Sapa town.

EXCLUDES:
- Other meals than mentioned.
- Other services than mentioned.
- Laundry, telephone calls and expenditure of a personal nature.
- Travel insurance, Tips and emergency transfers.
- Drinks with meals.
- Early check-in and late check-out at hotels, if not mentioned in the program.
- Surcharge for New Year or Holiday seasons.
- The price above is based on two persons sharing one room. If you prefer a single room on your own, please pay single room supplement.

NOTES:
- Prices may vary according to your travel time and are higher in the high season, e.g. Christmas period (Dec 24-26), New Year period (Dec 31-Jan 02) and Public holidays of Vietnam.
- For additional hotel night cost to the packages, please contact us for the rates.
- This tour package can be fully customizable to fit your travel plan. You can also disregard full package tours and choose whatever travel items you need we can quote the tours you really want. Usually travel insurance is not covered in our quotations.
- Keep your luggage and money by yourself.
- Inform in advance if you are vegetarian.
- Take original passports, good and comfortable trekking shoes, insect repellent, torches, sun scream, towels, rain gear and extra warm clothes. All customers must obey the order of your guide for your safety.
- Child definition: from age of 3 to 9 years (usually enjoying 10%-20% discount. Contact us for the actual discount for your case). 10 years old and above will be charged as Adult Price.
- All tours & transfers are all based in English Speaking local guides. For other languages, please contact us for new quotations.
- Itinerary Change to the confirmed itinerary may happen because of traffic, weather, or any other conditions not under our control such as war, strike, fire, acts of government, riot, etc. We will do our best to make sure that all the travel will be similar. Viet HighlightsTravel can substitute the itinerary upon your agreement.
- Transportation and Restaurants: The cars, vans or coaches for the land transportation should be in good shape with air conditioner. All restaurants should be tidy and clean.